The 150th anniversary season was not the fun-filled rollercoaster we were all hoping for but that does not mean it was without its moments.
Join us for the next 10 days as we reccount the season, month-by-month, in which the supporters have endured enough ups and downs to last a lifetime.
January
New Year, new Reading? Nope, it was more of the same from the Royals as it began with a capitulation live on television. Moved from New Years’ Day to Bank Holiday Monday, a Junior Hoilett brace put the hosts in firm control against bottom club Derby County. 11 points behind Veljko Paunovic’s side, despite starting 15 points worse off, an 86th Colin Kazim-Richards goal and a 91st minute Curtis Davies header meant the team dropped two points and snatched a draw from the jaws of victory. Little did we know at the time, that was to be the high point of a wretched month which turned out to be the nadir of a painful season.
Before the five straight league defeats, a sold-out contingent of Royals travelled to sixth-tier outfit Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup. Celebrating its 150th year, the same age as Reading Football Club, it was the first time in over a decade that the club had drawn a non-league side in the Cup. In high spirits, it looked as though the supporters would be sent home content when George Puscas put the visitors in the lead on the stroke of half time but two goals in the final 20 minutes swung the tie on its head and provided the Cup with its major upset of round three.
When you thought it couldn’t get any worse, the club then suffered its heaviest home defeat since joining the Football League in 1920 when Fulham ran riot and notched seven at the SCL Stadium.
The month had looked like improving on Teesside when Andy Carroll gave the visitors the lead with 20 minutes remaining against Middlesbrough, only for Matt Crooks to score two in the final 10 minutes and break Royal hearts once again.
A 0-2 home defeat to Luton Town saw a season low crowd of just 9,600 through the turnstiles and the month was rounded off with eight goals conceded in two matches, an enthralling just deeply frustrating 3-4 defeat to Huddersfield Town before another capitulation, this time at the hands of QPR in a 4-0 loss.
Somehow, despite picking up just two points in two months- Reading still sat in 21st and two points clear of relegation. Distressed with form and the running of the club, unrest was growing within the Royals fanbase, and February would see pressures reach boiling point.
Join us tomorrow for February.
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